Beirut, Lebanon – High-level Lebanese ministerial sources revealed, according to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, that Israel is “sending a direct and indirect message” to Beirut
that it will not stop at the limits of diplomatic initiatives or attempts at de-escalation.
This comes after the assassination of Hezbollah’s chief of staff in a strike
that sparked widespread political and security concern within Lebanon.
The sources said that Israel, through the latest operation,
is “saying in one way or another: Don’t make any efforts;
neither through international initiatives nor negotiations… What we want to do, we will do.”
She added that this development indicates Israel’s desire to impose
new rules of engagement on the Lebanese scene.
Regardless of any previous understandings or American
and French efforts to contain the tension.
A dangerous transformation
According to Lebanese officials, the assassination represents
a dangerous shift in the level of targeting.
Since it targets one of the most prominent military leaders in Hezbollah,
this means that the next stage may witness an open escalation
whose results will be difficult to control.
Especially in light of the absence of any international guarantees to stop the mutual military operations.
Sources confirm that the Lebanese government is making strenuous efforts
to prevent the country from sliding into a wider confrontation.
However, the latest Israeli message reflects – according to them – “a clear lack of concern or rejection”
of all the political efforts that have been put forward for weeks to achieve calm.
Political fragility
She added that Israel “is acting based on purely field calculations”
and that it currently appears unprepared to enter into any binding negotiating process.
Political circles warn that the continuation of targeted strikes
and assassinations could push matters to the point of no return.
Especially since Hezbollah is now facing internal and external pressure to respond.
Lebanon is suffering from political and economic fragility that could make
any new escalation more dangerous for the internal situation.
Estimates suggest that the next phase will witness intensive diplomatic activity.
But it may clash with each side’s insistence on imposing its own equation on the ground.
